Alexander Volkanovski Beats Diego Lopes By UD at UFC 325 to Retain Featherweight Title

Alexander Volkanovski delivered a victory in his home country with a unanimous decision win over Diego Lopes at UFC 325 from the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

The two fighters did not pick up right where they left off. Volkanovski was measured in the opening frame, but still landed enough offense to take the round.

Lopes's slow start drew criticism:

The challenger did a much better job of pushing the action in the second round. He mounted some offense of his own. However, Volkanovski's attempted guillotine choke was still one of the highlights of the round:

The third round saw both fighters land heavy leather. Volk caught Lopez with two flush right hands, but Lopes was able to land a slick right hand that appeared to put Volkanovski on the ground. 

Volkanovski continued to control the fight into the championship rounds. Unfortunately he also landed a meme-worthy low blow that held up the fourth-round for a bit while Lopes recovered. 

Unfortunately for Lopes, the bout continued to look a whole lot like the first fight between the two. The rounds were competitive, but Volkanovski seemed to get the better of him in most of the exchanges. 

Volkanovski continues to establish himself as a mainstay in the discussion as the greatest featherweight of all time. The victory gives him six successful title defenses of the 145-pound belt in his career.

That puts him one away from tying Jose Aldo's record of seven defenses in the division.

The Great continues to impress at 37 years old in a division that often favors the younger fighters. While retirement talk will surely start to get louder, the Australian is having none of it at this point.

"I plan on taking minimal damage out there, having a quick turnaround and then we'll see what happens after that," Volkanovski told reporters heading into this fight. "You're seeing a lot of rumors. You're seeing a lot of people, 'Aha, this is going to be his last one.' Obviously, I put that to bed. Definitely not the right time for this. I've still got a bit left in me. That's why I want to be active because how much longer?"

The win also closes the book on another rivalry in his career. He fought, and beat, Lopes in a unanimous decision win at UFC 314. Now he can move on to other challenges in the division.

One of those challenges is likely Movsar Evloev. The 31-year-old is 19-0 and Volkanovski had already acknowledged him as a worthy contender before he fought Lopes the first time.

That fight is the biggest the division can make right now as Volkanovski tries to earn the record-tying title defense against a man who is the presumed future of the division.